Golabgiri (Rosewater Extraction) Ceremony

Golabgiri is a traditional ceremony held annually in 14 provinces of Iran, mainly from early Ordibehesht to late Khordad (based on climatic conditions). The most famous rosewater in the world comes from Kashan. The ceremony of Golabgiri in Iran begins at the start of Ordibehesht, and the rosewater producers of Meymand, Fars Province, located 90 kilometers southeast of Shiraz, are the first to start the ritual each year due to favorable weather conditions. Every year, the Flower and Rosewater Festival in Meymand begins in early Ordibehesht, and by the end of the month, the harvesting of Damask roses and rosewater extraction concludes.

The flower-picking and Golabgiri ceremonies, along with the Maimand Flower and Rosewater Festival, attract approximately 2 million tourists annually from across the country, especially from southern provinces. The Golabgiri ceremony also takes place in other regions, including Darab County and various parts of Kashan County such as Qamsar, Niasar, Dehabad village (Natanz County), and Badroud city.

During this ceremony, which draws over a million visitors each year, rosewater is produced from the red roses cultivated in these regions. In Kashan County’s Golabgiri workshops, about 15,000 tons of concentrated rosewater are produced annually.

Golabgiri is an interesting ancient ceremony of Iran - as the birthplace of rosewater production in the world - dating back to about one thousand years ago. This ceremony takes place annually from mid-May to mid-June throughout Kashan county of the Isfahan Province of Iran including Ghamsar, Niasar, and other areas such as Mehriz, Barzak, Azvar, Lalehzar Bardsir, Shahmirzad, Damghan, Vamarzan, Dodangeh, etc. During this event, which annually attracts tens of thousands of tourists, the essence of a special type of rose called “Gole Mohammadi”, which is planted in many flower gardens in these areas (and plucked with special religious customs) is prepared by a traditional system of evaporation.

Quality-wise the rosewater of Ghamsar is considered the best rosewater in the world. In terms of purity, rosewater is divided into several categories: heavy rosewater (first grade), light rose (second grade), “doatashe” (double fire rosewater), “sehatashe” (three fire rosewater), and sub-aromatic rose.

Besides its usage in food, medicine, and cosmetics, the Iranian rosewater is also of religious importance and is used to perfume religious spaces and washing the house of Ka’ba in Mecca.